Back on 472kHz (630m) WSPR RX

As WSPRnet seemed to be working, I took a chance and went back on 472kHz (630m) WSPR RX overnight. In all, 12 stations spotted with best DX LA2XPA (1310km). No new stations were spotted overnight that were not spotted in the evening.  Unless I strike lucky and spot some USA stations, there is little benefit stopping on overnight.

Which dealers will survive?

Sorry if I sound like the grim reaper!

There is little doubt that many (most?) radio amateurs are getting old. Yes, there are younger people entering the hobby, but the vast majority are old men. This means several things.

1. We need to attract and keep younger people.
2. There will be fewer radio magazines. Even now, you have to look hard to find any in newsagents, whereas computer and gaming mags are breeding.
3. Those mags that survive are likely to be thinner with fewer adverts.
4. There will be fewer dealers.
5. Most new products will be made in China (even if designed in the USA or Japan).
6. There will be fewer manufacturers making amateur radio products.
7. There will be fewer new products.

This is my forecast (I very much hope I am wrong):

1. At least one major manufacturer will leave the amateur radio market or go bust.
2. There will be half the number of radio amateurs on the planet in 20 years.

In the same way that high street shops need to re-invent themselves or go under, so our hobby has to change. The next 20 years are crisis times for a great many institutions such as shops, churches and, of course, amateur radio.

It would not surprise me if many authorities just allowed all users to use any VLF, LF, MF, HF and VHF frequencies without a licence on a strictly "non-interference" basis, perhaps with a low power limit. If you were OFCOM or the FCC this would make life easy. It is called deregulation. In other words, copping out.  Radio amateurs that remain can sort themselves out!

160m FT8 RX (not)

Yet again, I was going to be monitoring 160m FT8 RX overnight. As WSPRnet was working, I QSYed back down to 472kHz (630m) WSPR RX

Once again, all 160m and 630m reception was on the earth-electrode "antenna" in the ground. With this antenna my noise floor is S0 on 160m and 630m. At 160m and 630m, I think this acts as a loop, with best reception E-W. It works well on 160m TX too with the best DX over 1000km with 2.5W from the FT817ND. On 160m the match is excellent.

Sunspots - Wednesday January 23rd 2019

Solar flux is 71 today and the SSN 18. A=3 and K=3.

Topband FT8 RX

As WSPRnet was not working (again), I QSYed to 160m FT8 RX (again). Lots of Europeans (again) with best DX so far RO9O (5145km).

Spots on 160m FT8 RX so far this evening (to about 1930z) 
using the earth-electrode "antenna" in the ground.

UPDATE 2030z: It surprises me how similar 160m FT8 RX is night after night. Most evenings, loads of Europeans are spotted with North Americans coming through later and overnight. I am no 160m expert, but it seems North Americans are being spotted later than a month or so ago. One Canadian station was being copied here well after daylight today.

Trump and his transgender military ban - NOT amateur radio

If nothing else, President Trump likes controversy. The latest, allegedly, is the Supreme Court has allowed him to stop transgender people serving in the US military. Now, I do not possess all the facts, but this sounds a backward step to me. If I am wrong, I an sure I shall be put right.

See https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-46963426

472kHz WSPR RX

WSPRnet seems to be working, so I have gone on 472kHz WSPR RX with the earth-electrode "antenna" in the ground. G1GKN (99km) spotted.

UPDATE 1618z: Already 3 stations spotted on 472kHz WSPR with best DX LA2XPA (1310km) in JP33 square.

UPDATE 1635z: As WSPRnet seems flaky again, I think I'll try 160m FT8 RX again.

Tree surgery - 10m antenna still in place

We had our silver birch tree lopped today. This supports the end of my Par 10/20/40m end-fed wire antenna. This wire antenna is not very high and I was expecting to lose this when the tree was done. As it happens all the tree work was above this, so it is still in place.

2m FT8

For about an hour, I have been on 2m FT8 using the big-wheel omni antenna. My 2.5W CQ was copied by 5 stations in 2 countries (best spot was by GI6ATZ (479km)) and on 2m FT8 RX 6 stations in 3 countries have been spotted so far.

UPDATE 1230z: Now 10 stations in 4 countries spotted on 2m FT8 RX today.

UPDATE 1544z: Now 26 stations in 7 countries spotted today on 2m FT8 RX.

Stations spotted so far today on 2m FT8 

with the big-wheel omni antenna

The post - NOT amateur radio

We get post delivered once a day. It has been arriving earlier recently, probably as we have a different person on our round who uses this van.